Protector for shoe-uppers.



H. A. TRULL.

PROTECTOR FOR SHOE UPBERS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1911.

Patented July 4, 1911.

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" rap STAWENT OFFICE.

HERBERT A. TRULL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO W. H. MCELWAIN COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- TION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

PROTECTOR FOR SI-IOE-UPPERS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT A. TRULL, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Protectors for Shoe-Uppers, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to means for protecting shoe-uppers while they are being handled in a factory, to prevent the soiling of the upper, and particularly the lining, by contact with the hands which manipulate the upper.

The invention has for its object to provide a shield of this character of durable construction, and adapted to be used indefinitely and transferred from one upper to another.

The invention also has for its object to provide a protector adapted not only to,

prevent the soiling of the upper, but also to stiffen the limp ankle portions of the upper while they are being; manipulated and prevent said portions from being wrinkled or crushed.

The invention consists of the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a shoe-upper and a pair of protectors applied thereto, each protector constituting an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 represents an edge view of the protector, formed as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of a modified form of the protector.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

In the drawings, 12 represents a shield composed of a thin plate of any suitable, durable and relatively stiff material, sheet metal being preferred. The shield is formed to bear closely against a considerable portion of the inner surface of the lining of a shoe-upper 13, its form being such that it is adapted to cover those portions of the lining which are liable to come in contact with parts of a hand which manipulates the upper.

The shield is provided with means Whereby it may be detachably secured to the upper, the said means being preferably an outer shield 14, formed as an integral part Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 20, 1911.

Patented July 4, 191 1.

Serial No. 603,708.

of the lining protector, or inner shield 12, the two shields being preferably formed by folding a blank of suitable form and size to form a neck 15, which connects the shields and is adapted to bestride the top edge of the upper. The neck 15 is preferably formed to constitute a substantially U shaped spring, the outer shield 14 being arranged to normally stand close to or in contact with the inner shield, so that normally, the shields are adapted to bear on and yield ingly grasp the interposed portion of the upper by the resilience of the neck. The free edge portion of the shield 14 is preferably curved outwardly to form a tapering throat 16 between the opposed faces of the shields, said throat facilitating the application of the protector to the upper. The free edge of the outer shield is preferably rolled inwardly to form a stiffening rib 17, adapted to prevent the bending of the free edge of the outer shield. The outer shield 14 is of such form and size that it is adapted to cover and protect the portion of the outer surface of the upper, which is liable to contact with a part of the hand which manipulates it, although I prefer to make the outer shield considerably shorter than the inner shield, as shown, the increased length of the inner shield enabling it to suitably stiffen and support the limp portion of the upper to which it is applied.

It will be seen that the protector formed, as described, is adapted to be quickly applied to the upper and that when applied, the resilience of the protector causes the two shields to grasp or hug the interposed portion of the upper with sufiicient firmness to retain the protector in place and prevent its accidental removal.

I prefer to provide the protector with smooth surfaces which are not liable to corrosion. When the protector is made of sheet metal its surfaces may be coated with nickel. The protector may be made of other suitable material, such as celluloid, this ma terial having desirable characteristics as to smoothness and non-corrosiveness.

It will be seen that the protector comprising the inner and outer shields constitutes a hand grip adapted to support all parts of the human hand which are liable to touch the upper in manipulating it, and that it is adapted to be quickly applied and removed without indenting, or otherwise defacing the upper.

Fig. 3 shows a modification, in which the outer shield 14 is dispensed with, the means which yieldingly secures the shield -12 in place being a pair of spring clips or fingers 18, which may be soldered, or otherwise secured to the shield 12, and are formed to extend over the top edge of the upper and bear on the outer side thereof, said clips converging toward the shield 12 from their upper ends, downwardly toward their free ends. :1 As shown by Fig. 1, two of the described; protectors may be applied to the same upper. It is obvious, however, that one protector; instead of two, may be employed.

1. A device for protecting shoe uppers; comprising a member formed of relatively? stiff resilient material adapted to yieldingly engage a shoe upper and provided with a shield section adapted to cover a portion of the shoe lining.

2. A device for protecting shoe uppers comprising a member formed of relatively stiff resilient material provided with oppositely disposed members cooperating to yieldingly grasp a shoe upper, one of said members being of sufficient area to protect the shoe lining while the upper is being handled.

3. A device for protecting shoe uppers, comprising a member formed of relatively stifi' resilient material bent back upon itself to form oppositely disposed yieldable members cooperating to grasp a shoe upper, said members serving'as inner and outer shields to protect the shoe upper.

4. A device for protecting shoe uppers comprising a member formed of relatively stiff resilient material bent back upon itself to form oppositely disposed yieldable members cooperating to grasp a shoe upper, said members serving as inner and outer shields to protect the shoe upper, the inner shield being longer than the outer shield.

5. A device for protecting shoe uppers comprising a member formed of relatively stiff resilient material bent back upon itself to form oppositely disposed yieldable members cooperating to grasp a shoe upper, said members serving as inner and outer shields for the shoe upper, the outer member being provided with an outwardly inclined edge portion.

6. A device for protecting shoe uppers comprising a member formed of relatively stiff resilient material bent back upon itself to form oppositely disposed yieldable members cooperating to grasp a shoe upper, said members serving as inner and outer shields for the shoe upper, the outer shield having an outwardly inclined rolled edge.

In testimony whereof I have a'liixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

HERBERT A. TRULL. Witnesses S..S. IIOWLAIND, CLIFFORD WARREN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

